Horses that suffer from navicular syndrome are usually feared by people like a plague. This was at least true some years back. The situation, however, has improved since people now know more about this disorder compared to how they did before. People are always afraid of things that they do not understand. More understanding is now of the disease possible due to the assistance of improved imaging technology. This is what Navicular disease in horses is all about.
A decade ago, any condition that affected the heel of equines was labeled as navicular syndrome. A lot of myths and misconceptions surrounded this disease that people were justified to fear it. Today, some of the condition that were labeled as navicula can be safely classified as not navicula. It is now well understood that there are several conditions that can affect the heels of horses besides navicular.
Some of these conditions can be treated successfully while others cannot be fixed. Navicular disease is today understood to have a higher level of prevalence in certain breeds of horses than in others. The condition also seems to get worse in certain breeds than in others. Horses of today live longer than before, and it is upon the owner to be able to detect navicula condition earlier and adopt a management plan.
There is a specific place within the heel of a horse where the navicular bone is situated. The bone is associated with a number of soft tissue structures which are located in all sides. Navicular bursa, coffic bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, digital flexor tendon and impar ligaments are some of these structures. There is a central marrow cavity in the bone which has small channels. The channel holds the nerves and blood vessels of the bone.
A number of various causes have been related with navicula syndrome. Some main cauces are problems in the flexor surface or flexor tendon, issues with the navicula bone and inflammation in supporting ligaments. These issues mostly happen in performance horses, that is, horses that people use for performance. The condition mainly leads to chronic lameness of the forelimbs in equines.
This condition has been diagnosed in a wide range of horses, but research is showing some form of breed predisposition. Horse breeds that are predisposed to this condition include warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses. Diagnoses in these breeds are higher than in any other breed of horses. Diagnosis tends to be done within the age bracket of 7 and 14 years.
Other circumstances that predispose horses to this condition include conformation abnormalities of hooves, mismatched hoof angles, contracted heels, sheared heels, disproportionally small feet and underrun heels. How severe the condition is in the fore feet normally differs, but both limbs are usually affected. One foot is usually more affected than the other.
Treatment options for navicular syndrome have continued to increase over the years. Horse owners are no longer tied to traditional treatment options. Also, diagnoses can be made more accurately, with the invention of better MRI technology. MRI scanning is the standards imaging procedure for this condition today.
A decade ago, any condition that affected the heel of equines was labeled as navicular syndrome. A lot of myths and misconceptions surrounded this disease that people were justified to fear it. Today, some of the condition that were labeled as navicula can be safely classified as not navicula. It is now well understood that there are several conditions that can affect the heels of horses besides navicular.
Some of these conditions can be treated successfully while others cannot be fixed. Navicular disease is today understood to have a higher level of prevalence in certain breeds of horses than in others. The condition also seems to get worse in certain breeds than in others. Horses of today live longer than before, and it is upon the owner to be able to detect navicula condition earlier and adopt a management plan.
There is a specific place within the heel of a horse where the navicular bone is situated. The bone is associated with a number of soft tissue structures which are located in all sides. Navicular bursa, coffic bone, collateral sesamoidean ligament, digital flexor tendon and impar ligaments are some of these structures. There is a central marrow cavity in the bone which has small channels. The channel holds the nerves and blood vessels of the bone.
A number of various causes have been related with navicula syndrome. Some main cauces are problems in the flexor surface or flexor tendon, issues with the navicula bone and inflammation in supporting ligaments. These issues mostly happen in performance horses, that is, horses that people use for performance. The condition mainly leads to chronic lameness of the forelimbs in equines.
This condition has been diagnosed in a wide range of horses, but research is showing some form of breed predisposition. Horse breeds that are predisposed to this condition include warmbloods, Thoroughbreds, and Quarter Horses. Diagnoses in these breeds are higher than in any other breed of horses. Diagnosis tends to be done within the age bracket of 7 and 14 years.
Other circumstances that predispose horses to this condition include conformation abnormalities of hooves, mismatched hoof angles, contracted heels, sheared heels, disproportionally small feet and underrun heels. How severe the condition is in the fore feet normally differs, but both limbs are usually affected. One foot is usually more affected than the other.
Treatment options for navicular syndrome have continued to increase over the years. Horse owners are no longer tied to traditional treatment options. Also, diagnoses can be made more accurately, with the invention of better MRI technology. MRI scanning is the standards imaging procedure for this condition today.
About the Author:
Navicular disease in horses can be dangerous if left untreated. To know more about this disease, visit the blog posts that appear at http://www.naviculardisease.com.
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